Electrical connector having improved coupling means



J' C. ASICK July 9, 1968 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAVING IMPROVED COUPLING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4, 1966 r J. C. ASICK July 9, 1968 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAVING IMPROVED COUPLING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Feb. 4, 1966 y 9, 1968 J. c. ASICK 3,392,245

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAVING IMPROVED COUPLING MEANS Filed Feb. 4, 1966 4 SheetsSheet .3

J. C. ASICK July 9, 1968 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAVING IMPROVED COUPLING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

Filed Feb. 4, 1966 United States Patent Office 3,392,245 Patented July 9, 1968 3,392,245 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAVING IMPROVED COUPLING MEANS John Carl Asick, Harrisburg, Pa., assignor to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed Feb. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 525,253 4 Claims. (Cl. 200-16) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Multi-contact electrical connector has two connector parts which are movable relatively towards and away from each other along a predetermined path for coupling and decoupling purposes. Rectangular camming frame surrounds the connector parts and is movable normally of the predetermined path of movement of the connector parts. Camming frame and the sides of the connector parts have interengaging means which :are effective to move the connector parts towards and away from each other, for coupling or decoupling purposes, during movement of the camming frame transversely of the path.

Background of the invention This invention relates to multi-cont-act electrical connectors of the type comprising two engagea'ble connector par-ts each of which has a plurality of electrical contact terminals therein which are coupled to each other when the connector parts are engaged with each other.

Multi-contact electrical connectors are available in varying sizes and having varying numbers of electrical contact terminals. The force required to engage or disengage a single pair of contact terminals is usually quite low but where a large number of terminals are engaged with each other simultaneously, as takes place in multicontact electrical connectors, the engaging force required for the connector can be quite high. For this reason, it is common practice to provide a force multiplying device for engaging and disengaging the two parts of a multi-contact electrical connector. The present invention relates to a force multiplying device of this type.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved multi-contact electrical connector. It is a further object to provide a connector having an improved coupling and latching means. A still further object is to provide a connector coupling and latching means for rectangular connectors in which the connector parts can be engaged with, and disengaged from, each other by movement of the coupling means in a direction extending normally of the direction of movement of the connector par-ts towards and away from each other. A still further object is to provide a connector in which the two connector parts can be held in mechanically coupled but electrically uncoupled or disengaged condition so that the circuits involved can be interrupted without completely disengaging or uncoupling the two parts of the connector.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a preferred embodiment of a connector comprising a pair of mateable connector parts, the parts each having a pair of opposite parallel sides. A camming frame is movable relative to the connector assembly in the direction of the parallel sides and camming means are provided on the connector and on the camming frame which bring about movement of the connector parts towards and away from each other during movement of the camming frame relative to the connector parts. In common practice, one of the connector parts will usually be mounted on a panel so that the two parts of the connector can be electrically engaged or disengaged by merely pressing on the camming frame and causing it to move relative to the connector parts. During such sliding movement of the camming frame, the two connector parts will be moved towards or away from each other and into or out of engagement, depending upon the direction of relative movement of the camming frame.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view, with parts broken away, of a preferred embodiment of a connector in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the parts in assembled relationship and showing the connector parts in their closed or engaged positions;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are plan views of the left and righthand side-s of the camming frame;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5--5 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIGURE 1.

Referring first to FIGURES l and 2, a connector 2 in accordance with the invention comprises two engageable connector parts 3, 5. The connector part 3 comprises a rectangular metallic shell 4 formed of two U-shaped parts or sections, the edges of which abu-t at 7 and which are held together in a manner which will be described below. The connector part 5 also comprises a shell 6 composed of U-shaped sections similar to the sections of the shell 4 although the shell 6 is somewhat longer than the shell 4. The corners of the U-shaped sections have a relatively heavy fillet 8 in which keyhole-type slots 10 extend for the reception of self-tapping screws as will be described below. These U-shaped sections can advantageously be of aluminum and can be produced by extrusion so that the keyhole openings 10 are formed at the time of manufacture.

A pair of parallel mounting bars 12 are secured to the right-hand sides of the shell 4 by fasteners 13 and have ears 15 extending beyond the upper and lower ends of the shell. This connector part is secured to a panel 14 by means of fasteners extending through these ears (see FIGURE 5) and in alignment with an opening 16 in the panel through which conductors extend.

A pair of L-shaped module retainers 18 are mounted on the inner side of the shell 4 at the ends thereof and have a plurality of inwardly extending spaced-apart fingers 28 from which lances 30 have been struck. Additionally, guide bars 20 are mounted on the upper and lower ends of the shell and have laterally projecting cars 24, 25 at the upper and lower end of the shell which cooperate with the camming frame in a manner described below. As will be apparent from FIGURES 1 and 5, the guide bars 20 and the retainers 18 are secured to the corners of the shell by means of fasteners 22, preferably self-tapping screws, which extend through the guide bars, the retainers 18, and into the openings 10 described above. The guide bars 20 also have outwardly extending flanges 26 which function as a hood means for the connector modules.

A plurality of connector modules 32 are mounted in the connector part 4 in side-by-side relationship and contain the contact terminals (not specifically shown) by means of which the conductors are connected to each other. Each module 32 thus has a plurality of cavities 34 for reception of the individual contact terminals which may be of the type shown in US. Patent 3,178,669. Ears 36 are provided on the upper and lower ends of the modules and openings 37 (FIGURE 5) are provided in these ears for reception of the fingers 28. These openings are enlarged as shown at 38 to define a forwardly facing shoulder 40 which cooperates with these lances 30 to retain the modules in the connector. It will thus be apparent that assembly of the modules to the connector merely requires that each module be slipped over a pair of the fingers 28 until the lances lodge against the shoulders 40 as shown in FIGURE 5. Each module is also provided with a hood portion or shield 42 extending between its ends on one side and with a pair of forwardly extending fingers 44 at its ends. The arrangement is such that when two opposed modules are moved into engagement with each other, the hoods and fingers will function to align them with each other as will be explained from the description below of the complementary connector part 5. The shield portions 42 of the modules also function to protect the modules from damage.

The connector part is in many respects similar to the part 3 in that the modules are mounted in this connector part by means of retainers 50 clamped against the face of the shell member by fasteners 51. The retainers 50 have rearwardly extending flanges 52 which are bent laterally and inwardly as shown at 53 and have forwardly extending fingers 54 similar to the previously described fingers 28. Struck-up lances 56 on these fingers cooperate with shoulders 40 in the modules 32 in the manner described above with reference to the modules 32. Guide bars 46 are also secured to the mating face of the shell and have laterally extending cars 48, 49 which project beyond the sides of the shell and which, in this instance, are twisted so that they extend at an oblique angle with respect to the plane of the shell. The individual modules 32, 32 are not mounted firmly in the shells by means of the fingers 28, 54 but are permitted some slight lateral movement or float. This movement is achieved by virtue of the fact that the openings 38, 38 are slightly oversized relative to the width of the fingers 28, 54. When the two connector parts are brought into engagement with each other, the interfitting fingers 44, 44' and flanges or hoods 42, 42' of the modules function to align each pair of modules with each other prior to engagement of the contact terminals with each other.

A cover plate 58 is secured to the rearward side of the shell of the connector part 5 by fasteners threaded into the corner openings 10. Advantageously, a suitable cable clamp (FIGURE 6) is provided to clamp the cable 60 composed of the individual wires extending from the contact in the modules. These wires will normally be provided with a suitable covering or wrapping 62 to form the cable which is clamped between the plastic pressure pad 64 on the inner surface of cover plate 58 and a clamping bar 66 through which screws 68 are threaded.

It will be apparent that the two parts 3, 5 of the connector assembly must be moved towards and away from each other to engage and disengage the individual modules 32, 32 and the contacts in the modules. Such move ment of the connector parts is accomplished by means of a camming frame 70 which will now be described.

This camming frame comprises identical end sections 72 and a pair of side plates 74, 76. The side plates are secured to the end plates by means of fasteners threaded into keyhole openings 78 of the type previously described. The side plates (FIGURES 3 and 4) are mirror images of each other so that a description of one will suflice for both and corresponding reference numerals, differentiated by prime marks, will be used for corresponding parts of the two side plates.

The left-hand side plate 75 (FIGURE 3) is provided with a straight groove 82 extending parallel to the sides of the frame and between the ends thereof. The projecting guide ears 24, are received in the grooves 82, 82 as indicated in FIGURES 3 and 4. A slanting groove 84 extends intermediate the ends of the side plate 76 and is enlarged at its upper and lower ends as shown at 86 and 88. A resilient latching bar 90 of suitable plastic such as a relatively firm nylon is fitted in the groove 84 and has foot portions 94, 92, the portion 94 extending into the previously identified groove 82. The enlarged ends 86, 88 of the groove 84 permit flexure of the foot portions 92, 94 of the latch bar as will be described below.

A pair of spaced-apart sloping grooves 96, 98 are provided adjacent the upper and lower end of the side plate 76 and communicate with the left-hand side of the side frame member 76 by means of relatively wide inwardly extending grooves 100, 102. The enlarged lower end 92 of the latching bar normally extends into thes groove 98 as is shown in FIGURE 3 although this enlarged end portion can be moved leftwardly and out of the groove as described below. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the camming frame and the connector parts are provided with interengaging means which are effective to move the connector parts relatively towards and away from each other during movement of the camming frame normally of the direction of movement of the connector parts.

In use, the connector part 3 will normally be mounted on the panel 14 and the camming frame 70 will be mounted on this connector part by means of the ears 24, 25 which will extend into the grooves 82, 82' of the camming frame. Under these circumstances, the camming frame can be shifted along a camming frame path between first and second positions, these two positions being indicated by the solid and phantom line positions of the cars 24, 25 in FIGURES 3 and 4. When the connector part 5 is to be initially assembled to the connector part 3, the camming frame is moved to its upper position relative to the connector part 3 and the projecting cars 48, 49 of the part 3 are aligned with the grooves 100, 102, 100', 102 of the camming frame. The connector part 5 is then inserted into the camming frame until the cars 48, 49 are in alignment with the grooves 96, 98, 96, 98. The camming frame 70 can then be moved to its down position in which the ears 48, 49 occupy the solid line positions shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. Such downward movement of the camming frame will have the effect of pulling or drawing the connector part 5 inwardly until the modules 32' and contacts in this connector part are fully engaged with their counterparts in the connector part 3. If it is desired to lock the two connector parts in an electrically engaged position, it is merely necessary to pass a rod as shown at 104 through aligned openings in the two sides.

When the contacts in the connector parts are to be disengaged, it is merely necessary to remove the rod 104 and move the camming frame to its raised position in which the ears 24, 25 will be below the enlarged ends 94, 94' of the latching bars 90, 90' and the lower cars 49 move below the enlarged ends 92, 92 of the latching bar.

It will be understood that these enlarged ends 92, 94 of the plastic latching bars 90, 90' will be flexed and moved out of the path of movement of the guide ears. These enlarged ends also serve to hold the camming frame relative to the connector parts in the phantom line positions of FIGURES 3 and 4 in which the two connector parts are mechanically engaged although the contacts are not electrically coupled.

An outstanding feature of the disclosed embodiment is that coupling and de-coupling of the two parts of the connector is accomplished by merely moving the camming frame upwardly or downwardly relative to the parts of the connector. The electrical circuits involved can thus be closed or opened by a simple manipulative operation. Connectors in accordance with the invention can thus be utilized as switches.

Since the shells of the connector parts 3, 5 are composed of two parts and each part comprises an aluminum extrusion, these shells can :be made in any desired length. Under some circumstances, however, it might be desirable to form the shells as one piece particularly where it is desired to have a continuous shielding sheath around the conductors.

The principles of the invention can be utilized in many embodiments other than the embodiment shown. For example, in the embodiment described above, the connector part 3 is fixed to the panel 14 and the connector part 5 is moved relatively towards and away from the part 3 by the camming frame 70. Under some circumstances, it might be desirable to move both of the connector parts towards and away from each other to effect coupling and de-coupling. With an arrangement of this type, the sides of the camming frame would each have two pairs of sloping grooves corresponding to the grooves 96, 98 (i.e., one set of grooves for each of the connector parts 3, 5). Under such circumstances, the camming frame could be slidably mounted in an outer frame mounted in the panel 14. Of course, inserts other than the moduletype inserts shown can be used and any suitable type of disengageable contacts can be used in the inserts.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective against the prior art.

I claim:

1. A connector assembly comprising:

a pair of mateable connector parts, said parts being movable towards and away from each other along a predetermined path for coupling and decoupling purposes,

a camming frame in surrounding relationship to said connector parts, said camming frame being shiftable "along a camming frame path, extending transversely of said predetermined path, between first and second positions,

interengaging means on said parts and on said caming frame, said interengaging means being effective to hold said parts and said camming frame in assembled relationship, said interengaging means including camming means effective to move said parts towards and away from each other when said camming frame is shifted between said positions where y, the contact terminals in said parts can be engaged with, and disengaged from, each other by shifting said camming frame.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said interengaging means comprises slots in two opposed sides of said camming frame, said connector parts having portions extending into said slots.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said parts and said camming frame are rectangular, said interengaging means comprising slots in two opposed sides of said camming frame, said connector parts having portions extending into said slots.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said parts and said camming frame are rectangular, said interengaging means comprising slots in two opposed sides of said camming frame, said connector parts having portions extending into said slots, at least one slot in each of said opposed sides being inclined, relative to said camming frame path, to effect movement of one of said connector parts and away from the other connector part during shifting of said camming frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,510,944 6/ 1950 Auerbach 200-16 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 999,861 10/ 1951 France.

ROBERT K. SOHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

H. BURKS, Assistant Examiner. 

